Then, Essex County Superior Court Judge Ramona Santiago switched gears, and in the same courtroom married Daniels to his sweetheart Sandra Roman.

The two ceremonies were a personal triumph for a man who had battled a more than 20-year addiction to heroin.

"This feels good. I am going to remember this for the rest of my life," Daniels said after the courtroom crowd cheered both his graduation and his marriage.

The long road to claiming back his life started in 2003 when Daniels was arrested for drug possession.

After he was held at the Essex County Jail for almost a year, he was accepted into drug court, a program for recovering addicts, said Sonya Noyes, the court's criminal division manager. It involves drug testing, treatment, job training, and close supervision from officials. Participants are required to appear before Santiago periodically to report their progress.

Since 1998, 145 people have graduated from the program. About 390 people are currently in drug court, Noyes said.

Daniels said he knew he had a problem when he asked to be put on drug court's list.

"I needed help," he said. "I wanted to get off drugs."

But when he first started the program, Daniels said, it was rough. He had a couple of relapses, but persevered. He made friends with court officials and Jamaine T. Brown, his friend and best man, who is a couple of weeks away from his own drug court graduation.

As part of Drug Court, Daniels also was required to participate in the Jersey City program, Ready, Willing & Able, which teaches former drug addicts and ex-inmates job tips such as putting together a resume and interview skills. Daniels met his 34-year-old wife, who is also a former drug addict, in that program in 2006.

"We were just talking to each other everyday," Daniels said, recalling their initial friendship.

They started dating two weeks after they met.

"I love her," said Daniels, who repeatedly asked Roman for her hand in marriage. Roman finally relented a few weeks ago.

"I can turn to him. I know he will listen to me on what I have to say," said Roman. "I believe this will last."